Saturday, November 29, 2008

Gianni Versace has become very well known for his bright, colorful, and extremely intricate scarf designs. These skirts are fine specimens of those print designs.

The first skirt is organza over a silk miniskirt done in a flag and sun pattern. The predominant colors in the skirt are blue, green, and yellow with hints of pink.

The second skirt is a four layer construction of scarf patterned silk. The waist and the first tier are red with a gold gilt floral pattern. The second tier is a deep orange with palm fron and gilt floral pattern. The third is blue with the same gilt floral pattern and occasional palm fron burst.

Both of these skirts are the perfect "it" piece to match with neutral solid color top and some fun heels.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Between evening and day, brought to you by the Master of the body hugging dress, Azzedine Alaia.

Q: In the evening, what could be better than a tight black dress with cross straps in the back that hits just below the knee?

A: Nothing.

The fit and detail on this dress are superior. If you have a figure that works well with body hugging clothing, this dress is perfect for a good 80% of evenings out.

For the day after, especially fitted for those chilly 8am ballet classes, is this long sleeve wool scoop neck ballerina dress. Trust us when we say, "everyone at the bar (ballet bar, you lush) will be pink with envy." We would watch our back, especially if you pair the dress with Lanvin ballet flats, pink leg warmers, large sunglasses and an extremely tight up-do. If you run into trouble, do a simple chamgement, then pas de cheval the hell out of there before the other ballerinas get their hands on your Alaia.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Over the next week, we will be posting amazing vintage Haute Couture and Ready to Wear designer clothing and accessories, including Chanel runway jewelry from the 1950s to 1980s (several very special early pieces), ThierryMugler cocktail dresses, Chanel wool jersey handbags and pre-owned leather HermesBirkin bags, and probably one of our most outstanding collections of vintage costume jewelry from Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Versace, and more. Wait tell you see the Belle Epoque style Chantilly lace Jean Louis Scherrer gown, too. We can't wait to share it all with you. You will be best dressed thanks to Decades and your gift-giving predicaments are solved now!

Following the American festivities of Thanksgiving, we thought it would be appropriate to post a dress by a great living American fashion designer: Bob Mackie. Now, let's give Mackie his props. We believe his brilliant costume designing for Carol Burnett and Cher often overshadows his talents as a great evening wear designer. Mackie may know camp costuming, but he sure knows his way around a gorgeous evening gown, too. The fuchsia and violet "scale" print silk gown is an example of classic American glamour and has less to do with velvet drapes as a gown (Carol Burnett as Scarlett O'Hara, of course) and more to do with a gown that beautifully sculpts the body in draped and gathered silk.

This gown certainly well highlight an ample busom and the fuschia color is flattering on so many of our clients. The print is very subtle, but it gives this gown added depth and a sense of texture. If Mackie is considered a showman of a designer, then let the show go on! You will be a showstopper in this classic silhouette and strapless gown.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Next Thursday, look out for the Divine Design 2008 Gala, honoring Jada Pinkett Smith and David Furnish! Benefits Project Angel Food, whose mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Details below--just click the image to open the invitation!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

On Thursday, December 11th, Decades' own Cameron Silver will co-host Salvatore Ferragamo's Evening of Holiday Shopping to Benefit Project Angel Food. Click on the invitation below for all the details. Hope to see you there!

This Perfect little black dress by Azzedine Alaia is a prime example of how fagottry should be done. The drop waist dress is constructed from several different panels that have been joined together with fagottry stitches that give a wonderful little peek to what lies beneath. The last picture in the set is a closeup of the stitch that Alaia became so well known for. The dress is constructed from the classic stretch material that Alaia used. This is a great representation of the Alaia "Look" that was so popular in the 80's.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

We do . . . in the form of Cruise Jewelry. This necklace is from the 60's, we are not sure who the designer was, but whoever he/she was, they did an amazing job. The necklace is constructed from a series of gold links on the back of the neck, then a large glossy wood ring, followed by a series of three gold chains . . . and so on. This is a very unique and well crafted necklace that would compliment any serious collection.

Anonymous cruise jewelry, c.1960's Measures 10" long.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

We love a good fox and we think most of our clients at Decades are foxes, too! For those feeling extra foxy, here is moxie foxy by Yves Saint Laurent Fourrure. In the most cotton candy-est shade of pink, and featuring a wide collar and full bodied fox fur silhouette, this coat goes both ways: it can be worn in the day with a turtle neck and pants; or, over a gown for a cool night. This is a coat that has amazing glamour so it's a day-to-night winner. Decades is very selective about the furs we sell. Condition is always paramount and this fox is supple and highly fluffy - a fur necessity fur sure. Fur is so expensive to buy new. Designer furs are astronomical. A vintage designer fur (only in tip-top condition) is a relative bargain. This one costs about 1/10th of what the same fur would be today at an YSL boutique. This coat is a whole lot of bang for a relative small buck. With winter here and temperatures dipping, isn't it time you dip into something foxy?

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Monday, November 24, 2008

We love vintage Yves Saint Laurent at Decades. We can't seem to buy enough of Monsieur Saint Laurent's legendary Haute Couture and Ready to Wear designs that our discrimating clients crave so much. Here is an early 1980s Rive Gauche design in two masculine fabrics, but designed to be purely feminine. The body of this dress is black gabardine, not the first fabric one thinks of when it comes to a LBD. To pump up the testosterone even more, Saint Laurent deftly uses cream canvas to create a flirty 1930s style ruffle collar around the neck of the dress. Balancing the masculine fabric are large black grosgrain ribbons that clearly define this dress as being feminine. The dress hits above the knee and is fitted along the body. It's a year-round fabric so this dress is likely to be ultra-reliable in your closet. This is a great moment to invest in reliable clothing. However, as this dress so clearly demonstrates, reliable need not be boring.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

When many of you think of sherbet you may think of orange sherbet, but we like raspberry sherbet, too. Some of the classical music buffs might think Schubert not sherbet when we speak of sherbet, so we are going to appease both your desires of gluttony and symphony with this delicious Jacqueline deRibes crepe chiffon empire waist gown that is perfect to wear to the symphony! How's that for a Franz Schubert tie-in. The pleated bodice has off-the-shoulder cap sleeves and a cascade ruffle going down the front of the dress from the empire, with a sexy high slit ready to expose a toned leg and a strappy sandal.

Empire waists are always flattering and the ViscomtessdeRibes not only designed flattering clothing for her clients, but she continues to be the epitome of elegance and a world class beauty and fashion icon.

Jacqueline deRibes raspberry sherbet empire waist chiffon gown, c. 1980s. Modern 4For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

This could be our favorite Alaia ever as we have never seen it before -- it's the great dichotomy of fresh and vintage that we love at Decades! A grey silk print of broadtail fur (hence the faux-tail), this shirt-style dress reminds us of great Claire McCardell designs of the 1940s and 1950s (and we know for a fact that AzzedineAlaia collects McCardell dresses and they have always inspired him). The neckline of the dress has excess fabric to create a drape and the waist has a drawstring to be tied so the full skirt has extra emphasis. The top of the dress is cut very open on the sides, so a separate and strapless bra/bustier that matches the very same fabric and print of the dress is worn underneath. This is what we call a fabulous day dress -- practical, detailed, unusual, and just the right side of sexy.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Less is more, so we won't say too much about this gorgeous Hermes Birkin 30cm handbag in delicious grained Fjord calfskin in the iconic Rouge H (it matches everything) with gold hardware. K stamp for 2007. Some plastic removed from the gold plate hardware, but the bag is unused. You will pay a premium over current retail for this bag, but you will thank yourself for purchasing a "real" bag!

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.